The haunting of Gene Jelks

[2Stater]

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When Jelks' stint in the NFL and the Canadian Football League was over after just a few years, he returned to Gadsden an embittered man, a substitute teacher barely making above minimum wage. In Jelks' mind, Alabama cost him a career at running back, and he was determined to get even one way or another.

And when a businessman knocked on his mother's door one day in 1992, Jelks got his opportunity. Jelks said the stranger who approached him -- he could remember only that the man's first name was Larry -- had a proposition.

Sitting on his mother's couch, Larry displayed canceled checks written from UA supporter Harold Simmons to Jelks when Jelks was still in school. Larry had proof of the improper benefits that would bring down Alabama, leading to the first sanctions from the NCAA in school history."(Larry) said, 'I knew Alabama did you wrong. You were a great, elite running back, and I liked to watch you run.' He said, 'I'm not a fan, not of Auburn or Alabama; I'm a businessman.' He made that distinctly clear. I said, 'What is this about?' He said, 'They did you wrong, and you deserve revenge.'

"And all of the sudden, it clicked. That's when the light came on. That's when the evil side came on me. My mother said don't do it, and my grandmother said to let it go and move on. I didn't. I made up in my mind."

"I was scared in the South," Jelks said. "I knew that I had hurt a lot of people, and they didn't deserve that. When I heard rumors of a death threat, I was fearful.

"That was the most scary, uncertain time in my life. Here I am angry, having gone against the university that gave me an opportunity. I betrayed them. I felt I had damaged all my memories, relationships. I was banned for life."

I saw him on the ESPN show "Roll Tide/ War Eagle". He was volunteering to help clean up T-town after the tornado. I still didn't want to forgive him, but maybe I did just a little. I hope he truly is sorry for what he did. The damage he did to the U of A was immense as we all remember. But, just maybe, as a result of his betrayal, it led us to this great situation that we currently enjoy.

[Marshal Dillon]

He's nothing but a whiny, self-pitying, self-absorbed little b**ch, low-life. His life was ruined because he was moved from running back? Give me a break! What a sniveling little punk and none of this rant is about his turning the Tide in, it's about what kind of man (what a joke) he is.


 

[crtuneman]

I read that article, and it sounds to me like Jelks still blames everyone else for his problems. He seems to be incapable of taking responsibility for his own actions. The reason he was changed to DB was because Humphreys was the Tide RB and Jelks was nothing but a mediocre back up. I remember watching him play and being totally unimpressed when he touched the  ball. If he thinks he was goign to have a long career in the NFL at RB, then he is more deluded than it seems. And he is obviously a liar as well. I find it hard to believe that this Pullen guy made tons of money off of him and tried to fight him in a body shop. What a joke. As far as I'm concerned, he has no right to wear a Crimson jersey and he is no longer part of the Alabama family.

[Crimson Phoenix]

Some things cannot be changed.  The damage to UA during that period cannot be undone.  I hope it was a character building experience for Gene Jelks.  It seems so.

The Crimson Tide has returned to greatness. The present is what counts.

[2Stater]

He's nothing but a whiny, self-pitying, self-absorbed little b**ch, low-life. His life was ruined because he was moved from running back? Give me a break! What a sniveling little punk and none of this rant is about his turning the Tide in, it's about what kind of man (what a joke) he is.


 

MD, are you secretly "Mad Max"? 

[Marshal Dillon]

He's nothing but a whiny, self-pitying, self-absorbed little b**ch, low-life. His life was ruined because he was moved from running back? Give me a break! What a sniveling little punk and none of this rant is about his turning the Tide in, it's about what kind of man (what a joke) he is.


 

MD, are you secretly "Mad Max"? 

Uh oh, my cover has been blown! Really, I can't stand to read about such a whiny, sniveling person who has screwed their whole life up but wants to blame someone else. For God's sake, his life is ruined because he couldn't play RUNNING BACK?!!! WOW! Grow up and be a man.

 

[pmull]

I remember Jelks well. He was a very good RB under Ray Perkins. Perkins like the two RB system. Curry came along Jelks junior year and he coached differently. Curry wanted Bobby Humphrey to be the featured RB. Like any coach Curry wanted the best players on the field. He put Jelks at CB and Jelks did not do very good. He also had a knee injury that set him back. Jelks needs to get over himself. If he wants to be mad at someone it should be Humphrey. Humphrey was the better back.

[2Stater]

He's nothing but a whiny, self-pitying, self-absorbed little b**ch, low-life. His life was ruined because he was moved from running back? Give me a break! What a sniveling little punk and none of this rant is about his turning the Tide in, it's about what kind of man (what a joke) he is.


 

MD, are you secretly "Mad Max"? 

Uh oh, my cover has been blown! Really, I can't stand to read about such a whiny, sniveling person who has screwed their whole life up but wants to blame someone else. For God's sake, his life is ruined because he couldn't play RUNNING BACK?!!! WOW! Grow up and be a man.

 

No argument here. When he started out as RB for Bama, he wasn't bad, but then BH started running circles around Jelks and Curry did the only logical thing. It was an easy excuse for Jelks to wallow in self pity and apparently he took it to the limit.

[Crimson Legend]

So this guy not only got a free education, he got paid for an education, and he still thinks he got done wrong?1?!?!?!??!

[Marshal Dillon]

I remember Jelks well. He was a very good RB under Ray Perkins. Perkins like the two RB system. Curry came along Jelks junior year and he coached differently. Curry wanted Bobby Humphrey to be the featured RB. Like any coach Curry wanted the best players on the field. He put Jelks at CB and Jelks did not do very good. He also had a knee injury that set him back. Jelks needs to get over himself. If he wants to be mad at someone it should be Humphrey. Humphrey was the better back.

I think he had 2 knee injuries and he really lost his quickness after that. Hard to remember everything so far back.


 

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